Spring Arbor Living Blog

Many wonder how to begin talking about moving towards assisted living with their family and loved one. This is a very important and very difficult conversation. It is critical to have this conversation in the right way at the right time in order to make this decision the right way.

You need to prepare yourself for this conversation by knowing what the options are. Have some ideas on how to have the discussion with your loved ones and how to address the need for care.

Be prepared:
Acknowledge to your parent or loved one, and to yourself, that this is not an easy conversation. This will be a big change. You and your parents or senior loved one need to address this change while they can still talk about it and participate in the decision making process.

Know your options:
Prior to starting the conversation, understand what options are within the realm of possibility for you and your parents. Perhaps meet with a geriatric care manager, visit some assisted living communities and become educated on home care options.  This way you can be prepared with information for your loved one and together you can make lists of the pro’s and con’s of each solution.

Discussion:
To begin the conversation with your senior loved one, acknowledge that the conversation is not easy, but let them know why you (and your siblings) believe the conversation is important. It is very important to be straight forward with your concerns but respectful of your parents fears and concerns. Be sure to plan on having an active discussion with your parents. Let them participate in the conversation. Keep in mind that you most likely won't reach a resolution in the first conversation. The first conversation is a way to opening the door to future conversations. Most likely the topic will have to be revisited.

For information on Spring Arbor Living in North Carolina and Virginia, contact us.

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What Should I Look for in an Assisted Living Community?
The following checklist will help you and your family evaluate assisted living facilities.
 
Assisted Living Consumer Checklist

General Concerns

• Does the assisted living community meet local and/or state licensing requirements?
• What is the policy on insurance and personal property?
• What is the procedure for responding to a medical emergency?
• Are visitors welcome at any time?

• Is there a written plan for the care of each resident?
• What is the procedure for assessing a potential resident's need for service? Are those needs reassessed periodically?
• Can a resident be discharged for refusing to comply with a care plan?

• Is a contract agreement available to include accommodations, personal care, health care, and support services?
• When may a contract be terminated and what is the refund policy?
• Are additional services available if the resident's needs change?
• How do you pay for additional services that are needed on a temporary basis (such as nursing care)?
• Are there different costs for various levels or categories of services?
• Are there any government, private, or corporate programs available to help cover the cost of services to the resident?
• What are the billing, payment, and credit policies?
• May a resident handle his or her own finances with staff assistance (if able), or should a family member or outside party be designated to do so?

• Is staff appropriately trained?
• Did you receive a warm greeting from staff? Are staff members personable and outgoing?
• Is staff appropriately dressed?
• Do staff members greet residents by their first names and interact warmly with them?
• Is staff available to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs?
• Is staff available to assist residents who experience memory, orientation, or judgment losses?

• Do residents socialize with each other and appear happy and comfortable?
• Do residents, other visitors, and volunteers speak favorably about the facility?
• Do the residents seem to be appropriate housemates for you or your loved one?

• Do you like the appearance of the building and its surroundings?
• Is the decor attractive and home-like?
• Is the floor plan easy to follow?
• Do doorways, hallways, and rooms accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?
• Are elevators available?
• Are handrails available to aid in walking?
• Are cupboards and shelves easy to reach?
• Are carpets secured and floors made of a non-skid material?
• Is there good natural and artificial lighting?
• Is the residence clean, odor free, and appropriately heated and cooled?

• What is the residence policy regarding storage of medicines, assistance with medicines, and medicine record-keeping?
• Is self-administration of medicine allowed?
• Who coordinates visits from a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other specialist if needed?
• Does a doctor or nurse visit the residents regularly to provide medical checkups?

• Is staff available to provide 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living, if needed? Do daily activities include:
• Dressing
• Eating
• Mobility
• Hygiene and grooming
• Bathing, toileting, and incontinence assistance
• Using the telephone
• Shopping
• Laundry
• Housekeeping in unit
• Transportation to doctor, hairdresser, or other activities

• Are different sizes and types of units available?
• Are units for single and double occupancy available?
• Do residents have their own lockable doors?
• Is a 24-hour emergency response system accessible from the unit?
• Are bathrooms private? Do they accommodate wheelchairs and walkers?
• Can residents bring their own furnishings? What may they bring?
• Do all units have a telephone, internet access, and cable television? How is billing handled for these services?
• Is a kitchen area/unit provided with a refrigerator, sink, and cooking element?
• May residents keep food in their units?
• May residents smoke in their units? May they smoke in public areas?

• Is there an activities program?
• Do residents participate in the neighboring community's activities?
• Do volunteers, including family members, come into the residence to conduct or help with programs?
• Does the facility require residents to undertake any chores or perform specific activities that benefit all residents?
• Are residents' pets allowed in the unit? Who is responsible for pet care?
• Does the residence have its own pets?

• Does the residence provide three nutritionally balanced meals a day, seven days a week?
• Are snacks available?
• May a resident request special foods?
• Are common dining areas available?
• May residents eat meals in their units?
• May meals be provided at times the resident prefers or are there set meal times?

Checklist by WebMD

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Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementing disease afflicting the elderly. There are approximately 4 million people suffering from this disease. The millions of people who suffer from this disease must be cared for either at home or in a care facility.

Caring for an Alzheimer's patient at home

About two thirds of those suffering from this disease are cared for at home by family, usually a spouse. As the disease progresses it carries with it a huge burden both physically and psychologically on the care givers. It is vital that the care giver access support systems that can provide reassurance, support groups, literature and strategies for coping with someone who has the disease.
 
Too often the strain becomes too much for a spouse trying to cope all alone with an Alzheimer's sufferer and they themselves have a physical or mental breakdown.

Choosing the right type of care facility

As the burden of care increases many families seek care for their family member outside the home. Finding the right Alzheimer’s care facility can be a difficult process encompassing many concerns.

Understanding the level and type of care facility where your family member is most appropriately cared for is critical. Choosing Assisted Living communities with levels of care is important. Too often families will place an Alzheimer sufferer at the wrong level, either in a facility that offers more assistance than the family member needs or worse making the family member cope with living in a facility that doesn't have the necessary support services required to meet their needs.

Contact Spring Arbor in your area. We understand the needs of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease we can match their needs with our custom care plans.

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Transitioning from home to a residential care community can be challenging for both caregivers and for Alzheimer’s patients.

Here's how to make the move easier:

Due diligence. Caregivers need to have much comfort in their choice of assisted living communities. Unfortunately, the quality of these settings varies greatly. Your decision should be based on three important factors: Is there a dementia care unit staffed by professionals with specific dementia training? Does the facility have locations close enough to your home and/or work to allow for visitation at a level that is best for your family? Does the facility meet the specific medical, social, therapeutic and emotional needs of your loved one?

Understand the emotions. An individual with dementia may not be able to fully appreciate what is happening or the long-term implications of relocating to a care facility. They may react to your emotional state during the move. Also, the new surroundings can be overwhelming and confusing, but this will subside in a few days or a week. Give them time to acclimate and to get used to the staff.

Provide input. Share your knowledge of the patient with the staff, including the unit nurse, social worker and nutritionist prior to admission. Employees need time to learn about the medical condition, temperament, behavior patterns, likes and dislikes, of your loved one.

Talk about it. The level of disclosure to your loved one about the upcoming move is a decision you need to make based on your knowledge of their ability to understand. Be patient and understanding and allow them a chance to voice their concerns. Offer reassurance of your plans for regular visitation.

Prepare the room. Plan to have the room set up before they move in. Bring familiar objects, but nothing of value that could be misplaced or damaged. Label clothing and personal items.

Be by their side. Accompany your loved one to the Alzheimer's care facility for the actual move, and repeatedly explain that they will be okay and that you are there to help. You may want to stay for the day and have dinner together. When it is time to go, explain that you have to leave for a while, but will return as soon as you can. Assure them that they will be fine.

Check in regularly. Monitor the care of your loved one on a regular basis, and advocate on his behalf with the staff and administration.

Think about yourself. Tap your network of family and friends for emotional comfort. And seek support from others who have been through this situation. Spring Arbor Living hosts many events where you can find support.

Original article – Alzheimer’s Foundation

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